Sacramento Kids | Apple Hill

Just a bit of a drive up Highway 50 to El Dorado County and you’ll find one of our neighbor’s finest gems. Anyone who has lived in Sacramento for even a short time has surely heard of Apple Hill and, if you’re a good Sacramentan (which I clearly am not), you’ll have payed it a visit by now. After having lived in Sacramento for over seven years, I finally made it up there and, gosh, do I regret not going sooner!

Fruit trees laden with crisp, sweet apples and picturesque farmland surrounding, what a beautiful area Apple Hill is! I understand there are several farms on the Apple Hill route with lots of fun children’s activities, but when it comes to nature, my preference is for simple, earthy, back-to-the-soil fun, which is what led me to this small farm. As someone to whom organic is very important, I was thrilled to come across 24 Carrot Farm. New to Apple Hill, this farm has only been open for a few months, but what an impression they have made! All organic, dry-farmed and using permaculture principles, they also supply the local coop and several restaurants in the area.

When you first hop out of your car, you are greeted with an adorable produce stand filled with the delicious scent of fresh melons and all sorts of colorful fruits and veggies!

Don’t forget to check out the beehive (Can you find the queen? She’ll be marked with a white dot.) and sample the raw honey!

One of the many bees hard at work!

Rows of beautiful apple trees, ready for picking, line the hillside!

Ladybug hunting in the pumpkin patch? Yes, please!

And customer service? Above and beyond and very much like chatting with an old friend! Ben, one of the two farmers, was on his own the day I arrived with two little girls in tow to have some apple picking and pumpkin choosing fun! While he had much to do around the farm and tending the stand and taking care of other customers, he still made sure he was available to answer all our questions (and boy did we pepper him with questions!) and hand out samples and show us around! He even charmed the girls with pretty flowers and posed for a silly photo with them!

Apple Hill, particularly 24 Carrot Farm, will certainly be seeing much more of me over the coming years, and perhaps I’ll check out some of the other farms in the future. Which is your favorite farm on Apple Hill?

24 Carrot Farm can be found on both Facebook and Instagram. They are located at 2731 Jacquier Road in Placerville and can be contacted at 510-828-6538 for hours and information.